Around the ACC: Freshman WR Watkins becomes a force for Clemson

Clemson's Sammy Watkins, left, slips a tackle from Auburn's T'Sharvan Bell during the third quarter on Sept. 17.

At the rate he’s going, Clemson wide receiver Sammy Watkins might not have any competition for ACC freshman of the year.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder from Fort Myers leads the ACC in receptions with 21 and is tied for fourth with 292 yards through three games. Those figures also lead the nation for freshmen and Watkins is tied with Florida State’s Rashad Greene for the most touchdown catches in the nation with four.

That’s not all. Watkins has 12 rushing attempts for 79 yards (6.6 per carry) and returns punts and kickoffs. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he had no hesitation heaping such a workload on Watkins after a few preseason practices.

“He’s just doing what he’s done in practice since the day he’s gotten here,” Swinney said Wednesday during the weekly ACC coaches teleconference. “We knew he was talented but it’s rare when you see a freshman who has the knowledge, the polish, the work ethic the maturity … he’s got all those things.”

Watkins caught 10 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers last week in a 38-24 victory over Auburn, breaking Clemson records for freshmen in every category. His 199 yards of total offense were the most since another Florida native who went to Clemson, Lake Butler’s C.J. Spiller, had 238 yards against Georgia Tech in the 2009 ACC championship game.Swinney said Watkins might turn out to be the game-changer that Spiller was for the Tigers.

“When God made this one [Watkins], he was in a great mood that day,” Swinney said.

Harris might play for B.C.

Boston College might finally get senior running back Montel Harris on the field Saturday when the Eagles play host to Massachusetts. Harris, a Trinity Christian graduate, hasn’t played yet because of knee surgery in the offseason. The affects on the BC offense are measurable: last in the ACC in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense.

And because the Eagles can’t control the ball with the run, as is their habit, there has been more pressure put on a young defense, which is also is last in the ACC.

Harris, the leading active career rusher in the ACC, practiced Tuesday and Wednesday. Coach Frank Spaziani said reports from the trainers will determine whether Harris can practice the following day and his availability for UMass might be a game-day decision.

Coaches deflect comment

ACC coaches had little to say during the weekly teleconference about the ACC’s future expansion plans. Almost of them fell back on the “We’ve got a game to play,” line when asked their opinions on the realignment issues.

“The people in charge know what’s best for the ACC and for Boston College,” Spaziani said.

“Who knows where it’s going to end or what’s going to happen,” said Swinney. “There are too many unknowns for me to spend a lot of brain power on it.”

There were strong opinions about the addition of Syracuse and Pittsburgh.

“They’re two great institutions for football, basketball and academics, and I’m sure they’re strong in a lot of other areas,” said FSU coach Jimbo Fisher.

“You have to position yourself to be strong, and we made ourselves stronger in the last week,” said Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer.

Jackets the pace-setter

After breaking the ACC record for single-game rushing yards with 604 in a 66-24 victory over Kansas, Georgia Tech leads the nation this week in rushing, total offense, scoring offense and passing efficiency. … The ACC leads the nation in scoring plays of 60 yards or more with 21. Nineteen of the plays were on offense (13 passes and six runs), one on defense and one on special teams. … Freshmen have scored 34 touchdowns this season, nearly 25 percent of the total touchdowns scored by the league in three weeks (141). … Tech quarterback Tevin Washington’s passer rating is now 334.31 but he’s 15 attempts short of the standard to be listed among the league leaders through the third week. However, if 15 incompletions were added to his current total (he’s 17-of-28 for 637 yards, seven TDs and no interceptions) he would still lead the ACC with a 208.02 rating.